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Part of
Japanese Mood and Modality in Systemic Functional Linguistics: Theory and Application
Edited by Ken-Ichi Kadooka
[Not in series 234] 2021
► pp. 7–50

Chapter 2
The system of modulation in Japanese

| Tamagawa University

This chapter explores the system of modulation in Japanese in the framework of Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) (Halliday 1985, 1994, Halliday and Matthiessen 2004, 2014). It attempts to apply this theory of language to the description of Japanese modulation, i.e. obligation and inclination. Unlike many traditional approaches of Japanese modality which confine themselves to the interpretation of sentence-final elements, the systemic functional approach posits a text-based, structural-functional account of modality in relation to the system of speech function. In light of this, the present study postulates an elaborated framework of modulation in Japanese with reference to the system network of modulation with typical realization forms, which contributes to the expansion of the interpersonal meaning potential in interaction.

Keywords: Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG), Japanese, interpersonal metafunction, mood and modality, modalization and modulation, grammatical metaphor, speech function, structural-functional approach, system network of modulation
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Previous studies on modality
    • 2.1Mood and modality
    • 2.2Brief overview of Japanese mood and modality
  • 3.Japanese modality within the SFL framework
    • 3.1Criteria for defining modality in Japanese
    • 3.2The scope of modality in SFL
    • 3.3The semantic domain of modality
    • 3.4Modes of expressions in modulation in Japanese
    • 3.5Summary
  • 4.Modulation
    • 4.1Descriptive framework of modulation
    • 4.2The concept of modulation
    • 4.3Systems of SUBJECT PRESUMPTION and SUBJECT PERSON
    • 4.4Obligation
      • 4.4.1Subtypes of obligation
      • 4.4.2Semantic domains of obligation and realisational patterns
      • 4.4.3Selected examples of the relevant systemic choices
        • A.[subjective][implicit]
        • B.[objective][implicit]
        • C.[subjective][explicit]
        • D.[objective][explicit]
    • 4.5Inclination
      • 4.5.1Subtypes of inclination and forms of realisation
      • 4.5.2Semantic domains of Inclination and realisational patterns
      • 4.5.3Selected examples of the relevant systemic choices
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations for grammatical items
  • References
  • Appendix
Published online: 23 March 2021
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/z.234.01iim
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